How to Help

680,000 Children were hospitalised for injury at a treatment cost of $2.1 Billion

Since 2013 the University of Sydney has been partnering with the Day of Difference Foundation, the Thyne Reid Foundation, the Australian Trauma Quality Improvement Program and health agencies to generate much needed evidence to better understand the incidence and impact of childhood trauma and ultimately, improve outcomes for children and families.

“Injury Can Happen in the Blink of an Eye & It Can Happen to Anyone.”

Here’s 6 Key Recommendations on How to Protect Future Generations.

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URGENT NATIONAL RESPONSE: Strong federal government leadership of a coordinated evidence-based national response to child injury prevention is required to achieve real reductions in child injury hospitalisation rates, but currently does not exist.

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Improved quality and timeliness of data by implementing National Injury Surveillance Systems

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EVIDENCED-BASED SUSTAINABLE INJURY PREVENTION STRATEGIES. Injury prevention strategies need to be evidence-based, accounting for a child’s developmental stage, as injury patterns are closely related to age-related changes in activity as well as perceptual, motor and cognitive skills.

PROVIDE PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. Severe childhood injury is catastrophic for families. Almost half of parents of severely injured children develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Parent wellbeing is essential to their capacity to support their child’s wellbeing.

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Specific focus on areas categorised as “Vulnerable Groups”. Children from lower socio-economic groups, rural/regional areas in this report were overrepresented. Paediatric road-related injuries (including pedal cycle injuries) should be part of a broader Federal and State Government injury prevention strategy.

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This is the biggest ever Australian report on the causes, characteristics, treatment costs and survival rates of injured children.

Government investment is critically important and we require a dedicated team effort to mobilise resources, drive a PR campaign and coordinate ongoing efforts to ensure Australia has a coordinated, funded and sustained national prevention action. This is the only way of making a real difference in reducing the incidence and impact of childhood injury in Australia.

Download Final Report

A 10-year review of the characteristics and health outcomes of injury-related hospitalisations of children in Australia

Rebecca Mitchell, Kate Curtis, Kim Foster

1 Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
2 Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney
3 North Western Mental Health & School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University.

Position statement on reducing the incidence and impact of Childhood injury in Australia

Child Safety Good Practice Guide

This guide is divided into five sections to help injury stakeholders to promote good practice in planning and implementing strategies to address child injury. Note that the terms child injury prevention and child safety are used interchangeably.

Stats Every Australian Should be Aware Of

Injuries from intentional self-harm are the most common for children aged 11-16 and result in four times the risk of mortality within 12 months compared to other and unspecified injury mechanisms.

A higher proportion of injured children in all age groups reside in areas of socio-economic disadvantage.

NSW accounts for one-third of all childhood injury hospitalisations in Australia.

Falls represent the costliest injury mechanisms for children.

QLD accounts for one-quarter of all childhood injury hospitalisations in Australia, with an annual average of over 17,500 admissions.

Childhood injury hospitalisations alone cost the Northern Territory over sixty million dollars over a ten year period.

State by State Report Cards

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Most Action: See which State of Australia is taking the most action on critical injury.

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Most Support: See which State is pushing their colleagues in other States to listen and act to actively reduce the number of children and families affected.

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Work in Progress: See State by State comparisons and proactiveness levels.

Every State is being approached on a periodical basis with recommendations and action strategies designed to reduce the incidence and impact of critical injury.

The State Report Cards give transparency to Australian families and the general public based on CHiPA’s research and recommendations. These Report Cards give every Australian the power to speak up with local Members, vote with their feet and help reduce the #1 killer of children in Australia.

Heart Breaking Stories from the Frontline that Drive CHiPA’s Reason for Being

I will never forget the guttural sound of a mother being told by us that her child has just died after being hit by a car. I will never forget the helplessness we all felt as clinicians holding this mother, and praying with her over her child. No parent should have to go through what she did, but tragically, the parents of more than 150 children a year do.

Prof. Kate CurtisSydney Nursing School, The Sydney University.

“I will never forget that scream. Then to turn and see the fear on my child’s face, the blood just pouring on to the floor is something I can never erase from my mind. But we were lucky. Not every child or family ends up with a happy ending. It’s because of this, that I am so passionate about seeing every possible avenue explored to reduce injury (and unnecessary heartache) in kids and families.”

Real support by real people – including YOU!

Members of CHiPA are everyday Australians working hard to protect children from critical injury and the impacts that ripple through families.

Whilst the founding Members of the Alliance are people in key positions at hospitals and influencers working in the communities to gain the traction and recognition this issue so desperately needs, everyone can help!